Shopping for sports enthusiast can be a win-win
Written by Chris Schmidbauer | | sports@toledofreepress.comHere are a few holiday gift ideas to place under the tree for your sports enthusiast.
Buckeye/Wolverine Shop
If you are shopping for a die-hard Buckeye or Wolverine fan, then the Buckeye and Wolverine Shop on Monroe Street in Sylvania or its location on Dixie Highway in Perrysburg is the perfect place.
The stores will have sales on apparel for Ohio State and Michigan fans, and some other specials certain to delight sports enthusiasts of all ages.
Also, this holiday season takes on added significance for the 30-year-old store because it might be its last.
“Our owner, Merrilee Zawadzki, has been doing this for a long time and she is contemplating retirement,” said store manager Tim Kravolic. “The location in Perrysburg will be closing at the end of the year, and we will stay open till at least April. After that, it is up in the air for us.”
The Buckeye and Wolverine Shop has many items for fans of Michigan State as well. The shop boasts many Spartan gifts for fans of the green and white instead of the scarlet and gray or the maize and blue.
The shop is open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday and from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturdays. The store is closed Sundays.
The Swamp Shop
If you are looking for some local appeal, then the folks at the Swamp Shop, located at Fifth Third Field and at the new Lucas County Arena, will fit the bill. The stores will have sales on Mud Hens and Walleye apparel and novelties for fans.
Director of merchandise and licensing Craig Katz said the store also has some surprises in store.
“We are planning to have special events where parents can bring their kids out to meet Muddy and Muddonna, who are our Mud Hens mascots, as well as, our Walleye mascots, Spike and CatTrick,” Katz said. Fans interested in those promotions should check the Swamp Shop Web site at http://toledomudhens.stores.yahoo.net/ for the specific dates.
The Swamp Shop’s holiday hours are Monday through Friday from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. and Sunday from noon to 3 p.m.
Online ideas
The hustle and bustle, coupled with winter weather in Northwest Ohio may not be ideal shopping conditions.
Perhaps you would prefer to shop online. If so, here are some online sites that might have just the gift to surprise your special sports fan.
College Snuggie: Yes, we have all seen the commercials for the Snuggie, billed as the blanket that has sleeves.
But a recent development in the product might just be the perfect combination for your sports fan during the cold winter months.
Snuggie has introduced the College Snuggie, which is just like the original Snuggie, except this one is made from fabric with your favorite college team’s logo and mascot on it.
The College Snuggie is the perfect way to support your favorite team and stay warm during those cold winter nights. The College Snuggie has teams like Ohio State and Michigan, and if those are not your preferences, there are 53 other team themes to choose from. The only drawback to the College Snuggie is it isn’t available in BGSU and UT yet.
The College Snuggie retails for $19.95 and the best way to purchase one is at www.thesnuggieshop.com.
Sports grilling accessories: If your sports enthusiast is also a wiz at the barbeque, then the folks at the Web site BBQFans.com have something for you.
The site offers a wide assortment of various grill accessories from college logo branding irons to a Detroit Tigers grill tools set.
It also carries licensed NFL grilling accessories. The prices range anywhere from the more moderately priced Ohio State University propane tank cover at $24.95 to the more extravagant University of Michigan Wolverines football-shaped charcoal grill.
